Events

Drop-in Chat Thursday, 19 March 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. EST

Want to chat over a coffee and sweet treat with BIFHSGO friends?

Drop in to The White Pine Café at Arlington Woods Church 225 McClellan Road, off Greenbank Road. 

Focusing on the Migrants: How Genealogy has Transformed our Understanding of the Irish in Canada

Part of the International Lecture Series with the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS)

BIFHSGO is honoured to present the inaugural event in an international lecture series to celebrate the IGRS' 90th anniversary.

David A. Wilson, Professor of History and Celtic Studies at the University of Toronto and General Editor of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, will discuss how genealogical research has played a key role in opening new perspectives on the Irish in Canada. After a general overview of Irish-Canadian history, he will present three case studies that highlight the contribution of genealogy to historical research.

This lecture is free of charge, with donations gratefully accepted at the event or online.  A discussion period will follow and light refreshments will be served.  Various local historical and genealogical groups will be in attendance.

The event will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, at 120 Lisgar St. (corner of Elgin Street) at 2 p.m. Ottawa time (6:00 p.m. in Ireland - note only 4 hours difference on this date). The lecture is available to watch online by registering here.  Doors will open at 1:30 p.m.

See details.

This is a hybrid meeting:

• Join us in person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) in Geneva Hall. Please use the Garden Entrance on Elgin Street. Limited free street parking is available on Saturdays, and the City Hall Parking Garage is available for $2.00.
• Join online by registering here.

. This registration covers both events.

The Travelling Genealogist: BIFHSGO members' top tips for travelling to research your family history / 9 a.m. EDT

Moderator: Dianne Brydon 

This moderated session will focus on recommendations for a successful family history research tour, drawn from our members’ experience. From what we have already received, a common theme is “be prepared” —with variations. We’ll review the top tips and then open the mics so participants can share their own experiences. If you have a tip you’d like included, please send it to Dianne Brydon at programs@bifhsgo.ca. Or join us and share it live. There’s a wealth of experience in our community!

The Rise and Fall of John Lowther Kemp Sr. 1793–1869 

Presenter: Doug Loucks

This “riches to rags” story began with newspaper clippings found early in 2023 that reported: “Mr. John Lowther Kemp, formerly hop merchant at Canterbury has been nominated by the Right Hon. the Earl of Romney as a poor brother of the Charter House.” This exciting find prompted hours of research, and a trip overseas to tour the Charterhouse and to walk the streets of Canterbury where Doug Loucks’ 4x great -grandfather John rose to great wealth before the changing times swept him into poverty.

Doug Loucks has been an avid amateur genealogist since the 1960s.  He is the Past President of the Grand River Branch of The United Empire Loyalists and holds two UEL certificates. Doug retired seven years ago as a United Church Minister, and prior to that he was a Senior Technician in Microbiology at the University of Guelph. Doug lives in St Marys, Ontario, with his wife Jane. They have four children and six grandchildren. Doug is a member of BIFHSGO and greatly appreciates the mentoring he received in preparing this presentation.

This is a hybrid meeting:

• Join us in person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) in Geneva Hall. Please use the Garden Entrance on Elgin Street. Limited free street parking is available on Saturdays, and the City Hall Parking Garage is available for $2.00.
• Join online by registering here.

. This registration covers both events.

Spotlight on BIFHSGO's Research and Projects in 2026

Presenter: Sue Lambeth 

TBD

A Good and Faithful Servant: the life of Henry Arrowsmith Brogdon (1812-1883)

Presenter: Veronica Scrimger

In the 19th century, Methodism expanded greatly in the counties of Northumberland and Durham. Like many other lay preachers at this time, Veronica Scrimger’s 3x great-grandfather Henry Brogdon made a significant lifelong contribution to the spread of the word of God. He preached in over 165 cities, towns and villages in the northeast of England. His was a dual life; Henry worked a full-time job and spent his evenings and Sundays sharing the teachings of Jesus Christ. Henry witnessed the development of the railways and the expansion of coal mining in the Great Northern coalfield. His death in December 1883 left a huge void in his community of Willington, County Durham. 

Veronica Scrimger is a retired librarian and telecommunications product manager. Her one regret in life is that she did not discover the enjoyment of family history research long before 2015! So far, she has researched and written about most of her husband's interesting Scrimger ancestors. Hannah Scrimger's story appeared in the ACR in Spring 2025. Veronica is now delving into the lives of her Methodist ancestors on the paternal side, including one who was a contemporary of John Wesley. She is currently an active member of the BIFHSGO Writing Group.